Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(32)

“Let’s just say I was picked on a time or two myself.”

Max rubbed his hands together. “Toby and Travis, eat your heart out!”

“Now, hold on. We already missed dress rehearsals. I don’t know if Mrs. Wilcox will let us slip in last minute.”

“Call her,” Jake said.

He had all the answers, didn’t he? She spared him a scowl as she slid past on her way to the phone.

“Hi, Mrs. Wilcox? This is Meridith Ward again.” She looked over her shoulder.

Max waited, Jake standing behind him, thumbs hooked in his jeans pockets, looking all smug.

“I was wondering. If Max can get a replacement for the dance, could he still participate?” Please say no. “I know he’s missing dress rehearsals and—”

“That would be no problem whatsoever.” Mrs. Wilcox sounded delighted. “We’d fit him in and be glad to have him. Have you found him another partner?”

“Uh, looks like we have.”

She thanked Mrs. Wilcox and hung up, then turned to face a hopeful Max.

“What did she say?” he asked.

Meridith swallowed hard. “She said they could work you back into the schedule.” She cast Jake a plea. “But I don’t know if I can do this. I wasn’t kidding, I have no rhythm whatsoever.”

“Look at the kid. You can’t say no to that.”

Max was grinning from ear to ear.

It was Meridith’s shoulders that slunk now. Heaven help her. She winced and forced the words. “All right. I’ll do it.”

Max let out a whoop and threw his arms around her.





Seventeen

“What if potential guests stop in?” Meridith asked.

Max and Jake moved the sofa against the wall. The living room was quickly becoming a dance studio.

Jake straightened to his full height. “That happen often?”

“Almost never this time of year.” Ben unplugged the lamp and moved it aside.

If Meridith had been anxious the night before, it was nothing compared to her response upon seeing Jake at her door. His hair was damp, like he’d just stepped from the shower, and he spun a roll of blue painter’s tape around his index finger. He wore a black polo, fitted jeans, and a furtive grin. How had she gotten herself into this?

“Noelle, grab the stuff on that table,” Jake said.

Surprisingly, the girl complied. Maybe she was glad her little brother was getting his chance onstage.

After moving the coffee table, Jake rolled up the rug, Ben assisting from the other side. Only one week with a cast and he was one-handing things like he’d done it all his life.

“Be careful, Ben,” Meridith said.

She watched them prepping the room with a sense of impending doom. The thought of dancing for an audience in ten hours was almost as distressing as the thought of being in Jake’s arms all morning. Maybe ballroom dancing would be easier than she thought. It was just a few steps, and Max had learned it, right? How hard could it be?

“You know, I don’t have any music,” she said. They couldn’t dance without music, right?

Jake whipped an iPod from his jeans pocket. “I’m sure one of you kids has a dock.”

“I do!” Noelle bolted off, taking the stairs two at a time.

Wasn’t she the eager beaver.

Jake knelt on the floor, pulled a strip of blue tape, and tore it with his teeth.

“What are you doing?” Meridith asked.

“Taping off a square.”

“Won’t it mar the wood?”

“It’ll come right off.” He tossed her a look that let her know he saw through her excuses. “Are you done?”

She pressed her lips together, hating the heat that crept into her neck. She rubbed it with her sweaty palm as if she could massage it away.

By the time he finished the box, Noelle had reappeared with her iPod dock, and Jake set it up on the hearth.

“Okay, we’re set,” Jake said.

Noelle perched on the displaced sofa, leaning forward, a smirk curving her lips. “This should be good.”

Now Meridith understood why the girl had been so eager.

“Don’t think so,” Jake said. “Off you go, all of you.” Jake shooed the grumbling children from the room, and Meridith felt like kissing him.

She cleared her throat.

“Take off your shoes,” Jake said after the kids disappeared up the stairs.

Meridith eyed her leather loafers. For some reason, she was reluctant to part with them. Not to mention she needed every inch of height.

“You’re still wearing yours.”

“I’m not planning on trampling your feet.”

She removed her shoes and set them by the wall, taking her time. “You want something to drink? I made coffee. Or there’s always tea or soda if you prefer.”

He tucked the corner of his lip. “No, thanks. You want to come closer? I can’t teach you from over there.”

She inched closer. “I’m really bad.”

“So you said.” He gestured to the blue box. “We’ll start with a basic box step. Ballroom dancing is counted off like this: one-two-three, one-two-three. Max said he knows how to lead, so I’ll teach you to follow.”

“Good luck with that.”